Roasted Pecans Recipe

One of our favorite snacks and a perfect little nibble for the holidays, tailgating events, or other parties are these simple roasted pecan halves. They really are so simple to make that I’m not sure I should even call it a recipe. I had never thought of including them here on my blog because they are so simple, but then a friend called me the other day and asked me how I made them. A few days later we made a big baking sheet of roasted pecans for my husband to take with him to the local college football game. He came home with an empty container telling me how much the guys loved them and that they asked him how they were made.

If you already know how to make these little bites of deliciousness, then you could take a few minutes to check out some of our other great tailgating recipes or appetizers instead. I’ll understand.

But if you haven’t made these before, you really should pick up some pecans soon to make these roasted pecan halves.

I’m roasting up a large batch of them so that I can grab them as a snack instead of all that Halloween candy that is mocking me in my pantry. I know it is in there and it sure is tempting me.

These roasted pecans also make a great addition to a salad or even a big bowl of oatmeal. I have another special treat coming up soon with them that is just perfect for the holidays. So be on the lookout for gorgeous pecan halves in your area.

You know, roasted pecans really just can’t be beat in my book. It may be because we fight the squirrels for them tooth and toe nail all throughout the fall so when we have enough pecans that I can roast or include in a Southern Pecan Pie, I know we’ve won a portion of the battle – for now. But it’s more than that. Pecans are good for you, too.

Did you know that a one ounce serving of pecans includes over 19 vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin E, calcium, potassium and zinc? Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ranked pecans in the top 20 out of 100 foods for antioxidant capacity. At 196 calories and 2.7 grams of dietary fiber, pecans are a great natural food to include in our diets. To learn more about the health benefits of pecans, visit the Georgia Pecan Commission.

By the way, the Georgia Pecan Commission doesn’t know who I am. I just love pecans and love sharing about this wonderful nut and supporting pecan growers, because they probably have even bigger squirrel issues than I do.

Here’s how I make these simple roasted pecan halves.

Simple Roasted Pecan Halves Recipe

4.98 from 38 votes
Roasted pecans make everything better. A quick, delicious recipe for roasted pecan halves that are great as an appetizer, snack, or on your favorite salad.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound pecan halves
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Place pecan halves on a half sheet pan or cookie sheet, being sure to spread evenly on the pan.
  • Break pats of butter into small pieces and place on pecan halves.
  • Sprinkle salt all over the pecans.
  • Place pan into oven and bake for 10 minutes, then stir gently, turning the pecans as you stir.
  • Cook another 10 minutes, watching carefully to make sure they do not over brown.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 227mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 138IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Hope you enjoy them!

Robyn

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Recipe Review




121 Comments

  1. I’m about to roast my first batch of pecans. I plan to use the melted butter in the bowl method (with the pecans added) before placing the results onto a cookie sheet and into the oven. I will then lightly sprinkle everything with salt.

    QUESTION: I have a container of “light brown sugar” – and I would like to know someone’s opinion about sprinkling the nuts with a little of the same. My question concerns whether anyone knows if it would be better to apply the sugar before, during or after the cooking process.

    Thanks for any suggestions (including whether the sugar idea is recommended or not).

    ~ Ron

  2. I roasted mine with a dash of butter, made pretzel bites and a caramel sauce and just dipped the balls and pretzels in the sauce. It was to die for

  3. 5 stars
    My mother made roasted pecans every Christmas so I used your recipe for guidance on cooking time and temperature. The only thing we do different is melt the butter in a bowl and toss with the pecans before spreading them on the cookie sheet. This gives even coverage of the butter on the pecans. Wonderful –

  4. 5 stars
    When I was a child my dad got these from an older family friend. She didn’t have much but every year at Christmas she would make them and give a small can of them as her gift. My dad made sure to go by every year to collect his roasted pecans. He usually allowed us kids one or two of them, keeping most for himself! Lol
    Thank you for sharing your recipe 

  5. What am I looking for to know when they are done? I definitely don’t want to over brown them but want that delicious roasted taste. I just took mine out at 10 + 7 minutes and tasted one and they still taste a bit raw. Any tips?

    1. Katie,
      I can usually smell the delicious aroma of the pecans when they are close to done. You’ll just want to check on them at the recipe time and check on them to make sure they don’t get too brown. I hope this helps and that you enjoy them! xo

    1. Oh I’m so glad you tried them and liked them Carrie! My grandmother made them too and I love sharing the tradition with my family and here on my blog too! Thanks! xo

  6. 5 stars
    The pecans were so good! I follow the ketogenic diet and these were perfect! I used organic unsalted butter (that’s all I had) and pink Himalayan salt. Best roasted pecans, and so simple!!